Corn-planter.



0. I. TOMBLIN.

CORN PLANTER. APPLICATION FILED Nov. 25. 1910.

Patented July 25, 1911.

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0. I. TOMBLIN.

001m PLANTBR. APPLIOATION FILED NOV. 25, 1910.

Patented July 25, 1911.

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OSCAR I. TOMBLIN, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

GORN-PLANTER.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented July 25, 1911.

Application filed November 25, 1910. Serial No. 594,052.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, OSCAR I. ToMBLIN, a citizen of the United States,and a resident of the city of Chicago, county of Cook, and State ofIllinois, have invented certain new and'useful Improvements inCorn-Planters, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to improvements in corn-planters, and especially tothat class thereof which are known as check-row planters, the object ofthe invention being to provide a corn-planter which shall be capable ofdropping the charges of seed positively at regular pre-determinedintervals.

A further object of my invention is to provide a corn-planter whichshall be simple of construction, strong and durable, and efficient inits operation.

Other objects will appear hereinafter.

\Vith these objects in view my invention consists in the novelconstruction and arrangements of parts all as will be hereinafter fullydescribed and more particularly pointed out in the appended claims.

My invention will be best understood by reference to the accompanyingdrawings forming a part of this specification, and in which- Figure 1 isa side elevation of my improved coi'n-planter, Fig. 2 is a detail planview showing a portion of a chain employed in the planter, Fig. 3 is aside elevation of said chain portion, Fig. 4 is a detail transversesection, of the chain guide employed in the machine. Fig. 5 is a topplan view of the planter, and Fig. 6 is a rear elevation of a portion ofthe planter.

The preferred form of my invention as illustrated in the accompanyingdrawings comprises an arched axle 1 carrying wheels 2, a main frame 3being mounted upon said axle as illustrated in Figs. 1 and 5. Extendingforwardly from the frame 3 and rigidly secured'thereto is a tongue orpole 4, only the rear portion of which is shown in the several figures.Extending upwardly from the frame 3 is a seat spring 5, and extendingdownwardly from said frame are chain supporting members in which theaxle 1 is journaled. An arched portion 6 of the axle 1 as illustrated inFig. 6, is provided in order that the frame 3 may be elevated or loweredat the will of the driver, means being connected with said axle wherebysaid driver can control the position of the same. The chain supportingmembers 7 extend downwardly and inwardly from the arched portion of theaxle 1, and a ring 8 formed integral with a rod 9 is mounted on oneextremity of said axle, said rod extending forwardly to an operatinglever 10. This operating lever is pivotally connected to the rod 9 andis adjustably connected to a segment 11 provided at one side of the mainframe 3. From this construction it is clear that when the lever 10 is inthe forward or full line position that the frame 3 will be in itselevated position, and that when said lever is moved to the dotted lineposition, that the frame 8 will be lowered, thus causing the engagementof ground-engaging stakes with the ground which will be describedhereinafter. A chain sprocket 12 is mounted between the lowerextremities of the members 7, and a second chain sprocket 12 is mountedin the lower extremity of a vertical movable rod 13 as shown in Fig. 1.Surrounding the rod 13 is a compression helical spring 14 serving toexert a constant downward pressure on the bearings of the forwardsprocket 12, thus automatically compensating for variations in thesurface of the ground. The upper end of the rod 13 is reciprocallymounted in the pole l, and the downward movement thereof is limited by anut 13 provided on said rod as shown in Fig. 1.

The seed receptacles 15 mounted on either side of the machine are ofordinary construction and contain the usual seed controlling mechanism.The plows or other devices which are usually employed for making thefurrows into which the seed is dropped are omitted in the accompanyingdrawings, it being understood that any of the usual devices may beemployed. Extending transversely of the machine and terminating in theseed receptacles 15 is an oscillatory rod 16, said rod being of ordinaryconstruction and connected to the corndropping mechanism in theconventional manner. Extending downwardly from the rod 16 andapproximately at the center thereof is an arm 17 which terminates in alaterally extending dog 17' provided for a purpose to be describedhereinafter. A central bearing 18 is provided for the rod 16, and atension helical spring 19 is pivoted to the arm 17 at the point 20 andto a hook 21 secured to the pole 4, said spring serving to maintain thearm 17 in a normally vertical position as shown in Fig. 1.

An endless chain 22 is longitudinally arranged under the frame 3 andpole 4; and is adapted to travel over the sprockets 12, the distancebetween the latter being variable by means of a plurality ofperforations 13 provided in the pole 4 into any one of which the rod 13may be mounted. In order that all parts of the lower portion of the cham22 shall be maintained at a uniform distance from the ground, a guidemember 23 l..- shaped in cross section is provided and secured to thesame bearings as the sprockets 12, Fig. 4 illustrating the manner inwhich said chain contacts with the lower surfaces of said guide member.24: indicates lugs provided at either extremity of the guide member 23for attaching to the sprocket bearings 25.

The chain 22 traversing the sprockets 12 is provided with lateralprojections 26 which are secured to special links of said chain, thelatter being actuated by means of groundengaging stakes 27 which areadapted to engage with the ground when the frame 3 1s lowered by meansof the lever 10. The stakes 27 are formed integral with the lateralprojections 26, the same being shown in detail in Figs. 2 and 3. Thespecial links of the chain 22 to which the projections 26 andground-engaging stakes 27 are connected, comprises perforatedprojections 28 to which said stakes are secured by means of rivets 28,the stakes 27 and projections 26 being thus secured by a single means.The cross section of each ground-engaging stake 27 is L-shaped asillustrated in Fig. 2 in order that the same may afiford a minimum ofresistance when engaging the ground, the ends of said stakes beingpointed as shown in Fig. 1. The projections 26 are arranged to engagewith the dog 17 as illustrated in Fig. 6, said dog being moved to thedotted line position indicated in Fig. 1 when each pro j ection 26engages therewith, thus transmitting an intermittent motion to theseeddropping devices through the medium of the shaft 16.

From the foregoing construction the special links carrying theground-engaging stakes may be spaced apart according to the frequencywith which it shall be desired to actuate the seed dropping mechanism.Thus, if it is desired to plant corn in hills three feet apart thestakes will be mounted in the links extending exactly three feet apart,and it is desired to be understood that the chain carrying means is tobe of such dimensions that not less than two stakes shall at all timesbe in engagement with the ground in order that certainty of operationmay be insured.

The operation of the machine is as follows z When the lever 10 is movedto the dotted line position the axle 1 will assume the position shownand the ground-engaging stakes 27 will enter the ground and cause thechain 22 to traverse the sprockets 12 as the machine is drawn forwardly.The projections 26 traveling rearwardly on the lower portion of thechain 22 will engage succes sively the dog 17 and cause the actuation ofthe corn dropping mechanism as aforesaid. After each actuation of thedog 17 the spring 19 returns the arm 17 to its normal or verticalposition ready to be again moved by the next projection 26 in theseries.

A corn planter of the construct-ion set forth having but a minimumnumber of parts is simple of construction, and due to the peculiararrangement and mounting of said parts is efficient in operation.

While I have shown what I deem to be the preferable construction forcarrying my invention into effect, the same is capable of variation andmodification without departing from the spirit of the invention; hence Ido not wish to be limited to the exact details of construction andarrangements of parts, but desire to avail myself of such variations andmodifications as come within the scope of the appended claims.

Having described my invention what I claim as new and desire to secureby Letters Patent is:

1. In a check-row planter, a main frame and means for elevating andlowering the same, an endless chain arranged under said frame andconnected therewith, seed-dropping actuating means mounted on saidframe, a plurality of ground-engaging stakes provided on said chain andadapted to engage the ground when said frame is lowered, and means onsaid chain for intermittently actuating said seeddropping actuatingmeans, substantially as described.

2. In a check-row planter, a frame, a wheeled arched axle supportingsaid frame, means provided on said frame for rotating said axle forelevating and lowering said frame, a chain arranged under said frame andconnected therewith, and a plurality of ground-engaging stakes providedon said chain and adapted to engage the ground when said frame islowered, substantially as described.

8. In a check-row planter, a main frame and means for elevating andlowering the same, an endless chain, arranged under said frame andconnected therewith, seed-dropping actuating means mou'nted on saidframe, a plurality of ground-engaging stakes provided on said chain andadapted to successively enter the ground when said ed to enter theground when said frame is lowered, seed-dropping controlling mechanismarranged on said frame, and means for intermittently actuating saidmechanism projecting from said chain, substantially as described.

5. In a check-row planter, a main frame carrying all parts of theplanter and means for elevating and lowering the same; an endless chainarranged under said frame and connected therewith, seed-droppingactuating means mounted on said frame, a plurality of ground-engagingstakes provided on said chain and adapted to engage the ground when saidframe is lowered, and means on said chain for intermittently actuatingsaid seed-dropping actuating means, substantially as described.

6. In a check-row planter, a frame carrying all parts of the planter, awheeled arched axle supporting said frame, means provided on said framefor rotating said axle for elevating and lowering said frame, a chainarranged under said frame and connected therewith, and a plurality ofground-engaging stakes provided on said chain and adapted to engage theground when said frame is lowered, substantially as described.

7. In a check-row planter, a main frame carrying all parts of theplanter and means for elevating and lowering the same, an endless chainarranged under said frame and connected therewith, seed-droppingactuating means mounted on said frame, a plurality of ground-engagingstakes provided on said chain and adapted to successively enter theground when said frame is lowered and the machine moving for wardly, andmeans connected with said stakes for intermittently actuating the saidseed-dropping actuating means, substantially as described.

8. In a check-row planter, a frame carrying all parts of the planter, awheeled arched axle, a main frame supported by the arched portion ofsaid axle, adjustable means connecting said axle with said frame forelevating and lowering the same, a pole extending forwardly from saidframe and secured thereto, a chain arranged under said frame and poleand resiliently connected to the latter, ground-engaging stakesprojecting from said chain and adapted to enter the ground when saidframe is lowered, seeddropping controlling mechanism arranged on saidframe, and means for intermittently actuating said mechanism projectingfrom said chain, substantially as described.

9. In a check-row planter, a wheeled arched axle, a frame mounted on thearched portion of said axle, means for angularly adjusting said axle;ground engaging means mounted on said frame, and seed dropping mechanismarranged on said frame to be operated by said ground engaging means,substantially as described.

10. In a check-row planter, a wheeled arched axle, a frame mounted onthe arched portion of said axle, means for angularly adjusting saidaxle, a pole projecting forwardly from said frame, ground engaging meansresiliently mounted on said frame and pole, and seed dropping mechanismarranged on said frame to be operated by said ground engaging means,substantially as described.

11. In a check-row planter, an endless chain supported for verticaladjustment, a plurality of ground-engaging stakes secured to said chain,and means for yieldingly forcing said stakes into the ground comprisinga sprocket on which said chain travels, a rod connected to said sprocketand passing through a part of the chain supporting means, and a helicalcompression spring surrounding said rod and interposed between saidlast-named means and said sprocket, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in thepresence of two subscribing witnesses.

OSCAR I. TOMBLIN.

Witnesses:

WV. C. SMITH, JosHUA R. H. PoT'rs.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressingthe Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. G.

